Action: Speak Out Against Israeli Attack on Humanitarian Ships

May 31, 2010

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From Canadians for Peace and Justice in the Middle East:

Please take 30 seconds to speak out against Israeli killing of international activists taking aid to Gaza

Early on Monday, May 31, the Israeli Navy attacked an aid flotilla of several ships bound for Gaza, killing 19 activists on board. This attack was illegal and immoral, as the ships were in international waters, and the ships carried only civilians and aid for Gaza. Canada must join European countries, immediately condemning the attack, and addressing the issue directly with Israeli PM Netanyahu.

Please click here to send an email to Stephen Harper and other Canadian leaders pressuring them to act immediately on this issue.

Please forward this email to other like-minded friends and acquaintances.

More Info

The Freedom Flotilla was to have been made up of eight ships, from various European countries, including Ireland, Turkey and Greece. The ships were carrying construction materials, as well as medical and educational supplies.

The people on board the ships included members of various world Parliaments, UN staff, human rights and trade union activists, as well as journalists. The Flotilla was the largest contingent of ships that had attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, since Israel began its siege of the occupied Palestinian territory in 2007.

Prior humanitarian efforts to deliver aid to Gaza by ship were met with resistance by the Israeli Navy. While aid boats have been rammed and shot at in the past, this is the first time Israel has acted with such extreme violence.

International leaders have reacted strongly to the attack. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was “shocked” by the attack. Middle East peace envoy Tony Blair talked of “deep regret and shock” at the deaths. Turkey recalled its ambassador from Israel. UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said he “deplores the loss of life” and called for limits on aid for Gaza to be lifted.

While news is still breaking, initial reports indicated that 19 activists had been killed, and 36 had been wounded.

Please forward this email to other like-minded friends and acquaintances.

Warmest regards,

The CJPME Leadership

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Posted by psnedmonton

Take Action: Israel Attacks Gaza Aid Convoy

May 31, 2010

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This page will be updated throughout the day.

EMERGENCY RALLY AT THE ALBERTA LEGISLATURE

Tuesday, June 1, 2010
6:00pm – 9:00pm
Legislature Building, Edmonton

Emergency rally to support the Freedom Flotilla, which is the biggest convoy of humanitarian aid sent to Gaza in four years. They have been attacked by Israel, and according to some reports, over 20 are dead and over 60 injured. We NEED to speak out and inform the public of what is going on! And we need to let our government know that their silence will not be tolerated!!

Help us promote this event by inviting your friends to the Facebook event.

For more information and news these are excellent websites:
http://maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=288138
http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/
http://palestinechronicle.com/
http://smpalestine.com/
http://gazafreedommarch.org/cms/en/flotilla.aspx

Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by psnedmonton

Job Opportunity: Ethical Investments Researcher

May 30, 2010

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EDMONTON JOB OPPORTUNITY: ETHICAL INVESTMENTS RESEARCHER

Overview of the Position

The Palestine Solidarity Network (PSN) is hiring a temporary summer researcher to conduct primary and secondary research and produce a report which examines the financial holdings of the Universities Academic Pension Plan (UAPP), and where possible other investment holdings at the University of Alberta, as they pertain to companies involved in the occupation of the Palestinian territories and/or the ongoing suppression of the human rights of Palestinians.

This project is funded by The Alberta Public Interest Research Group (APIRG).

About the Palestine Solidarity Network

The Palestine Solidarity Network is a non-profit, grassroots collective aimed at advocating and upholding the human rights of Palestinians in the face of ongoing oppression, occupation, racism and discrimination, both in occupied Palestine and in the diaspora. We maintain groups at both the community level, the Palestine Solidarity Network – Edmonton, and on the University of Alberta campus, the Palestine Solidarity Network – U of A.

Details of the Project

The research and report is part of PSN’s Ethical Investments, Human Rights, International Law, and University of Alberta Investments – Findings and Recommendations for the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement at the University of Alberta project.

This project examines holdings of the Universities Academic Pension Plan (UAPP), and where possible other investment holdings at the University of Alberta, as they pertain to companies implicated in the ongoing occupation of the Palestinian territories, as well as the ongoing suppression of the human rights of Palestinians.

The research project and subsequent report will need to consider the context of the Israeli occupation of Palestine, the UAPP’s obligations under international domestic law, and will also provide detailed information regarding key investments that could be deemed unethical (or illegal) and would be candidates for divestment. ‘Profiles’ of individual problematic holdings would be created and would include information on the company itself, information on how the UAPP (and where possible other investment holdings at the University of Alberta) is invested into this specific company, the company’s violations of human rights and international law, and other divestment actions that have been undertaken against this company. The research project will also forward a series of conclusions and recommendations for the University of Alberta administration, the University of Alberta Board of Governors, and the board of the UAPP. In addition, the project will outline a plan of action for divestment at the University of Alberta, as well as a communication strategy to share this information with the public, other campus groups, and the community at large.

Candidate Qualifications

The successful candidate must possess extremely strong research, writing, analytic and critical thinking skills. The successful candidate will also have: experience using library/research databases, a proven ability to work independently and meet deadlines, and a strong commitment to social justice principles. Creativity, experience volunteering or working with social justice organizations, knowledge of the occupation of the Palestinian territories, and familiarity with the University of Alberta and/or the Universities Academic Pension Plan (UAPP) and other university financial holdings are all assets.

Working Conditions

This is a temporary contract position with total remuneration of $2000. Hours of work and term are flexible and can be either full-time or part-time depending on the preference of the successful candidate, but the report must be completed by the end of August, 2010.

The successful candidate must have access to a home-based office.

The successful candidate will report to and be supervised by two members of PSN and will meet with project supervisors once every two weeks in order to chart progress/problems and discuss next steps on the project.

To Apply

Please apply electronically by sending your resume and a cover letter by noon on Friday June 4 to psnedmonton@gmail.com with the subject: Researcher Application.

While we appreciate all applications, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

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Israel’s New Best Friend?

May 27, 2010

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In advance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Canada later this week, an article by Al Jazeera’s Jon Elmer looks at the cozy relationship between Canada and Israel.

Israel’s New Best Friend?
by Jon Elmer

When Binyamin Netanyahu arrives in Canada on Friday, immediately following the ceremony in Paris to introduce Israel to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), it will mark the first visit to Ottawa by a sitting Israeli prime minister since Yitzhak Rabin in 1994.

During his last visit, in 2002, Netanyahu’s closed door speech at Concordia University in Montreal sparked a riot that made headlines around the world.

In the years since, as Israel has found itself increasingly isolated on the world stage, successive Canadian governments have moved against the trend and deepened ties with Israel – something that Netanyahu is keen to protect.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by psnedmonton

Action: 30 years of a censorship-free Pride in Toronto has come to an end

May 25, 2010

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Please support this action call from Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA) in response to the banning of the words “Israeli Apartheid” from Toronto Pride events.

30 years of a censorship-free Pride in Toronto has come to an end

For the first time in its 30-year history, Pride Toronto has banned an LGBT community group from the parade. The board of directors voted on Friday to ban the words ‘Israeli Apartheid’ from any Pride events, including the Pride parade, dyke march, and trans march — directly targeting the group Queers Against Israeli Apartheid.

This follows a year of intense pressure from Toronto City Hall (one of Pride’s main funders) and Israel lobbyists, who claim that criticisms of the Israeli government amount to hate and discrimination. By caving to their demands, Pride Toronto has not only silenced the voices of queer Palestinians and human rights activists — they have set a dangerous precedent for free expression in our community.

Send a message to Pride Toronto that ALL communities deserve to be heard in our Pride.

Call their offices to tell them no censorship at Toronto Pride:

Executive Director Tracey Sandilands: 416-927-7433 ext 222 tracey@pridetoronto.com
Director of Sponsorship & Grants Ryan Lester: 416-927-7433 ext 230 ryan@pridetoronto.com

Board members who voted to censor Queers Against Israeli Apartheid:
Margaret Ngai: margaret-ngai@pridetoronto.com
Genevieve D’Iorio: genevieve-diorio@pridetoronto.com
Mark Singh: mark-singh@pridetoronto.com
Daniel Knox: daniel-knox@pridetoronto.com

You can email all of the above by cutting and pasting the following into the BCC field of your email program:

tracey@pridetoronto.com; ryan@pridetoronto.com; margaret-ngai@pridetoronto.com; genevieve-diorio@pridetoronto.com; mark-singh@pridetoronto.com; daniel-knox@pridetoronto.com

Sample Email (keep in mind that personalized emails are more effective, so please use your own words):

Dear Pride Toronto,

I am shocked by your reckless decision to censor free speech at Pride. This year is meant to celebrate 30 years of resistance and instead you have decided to make a mockery of our hard-won rights by banning an LGBT human rights group.

The ‘privilege’ to pick and choose who gets into the club is what denied us our rights for much too long.

My Pride is political! I know how I got here and I will not allow you to silence anyone. We are loud, proud and inclusive! That is what makes our community strong and vibrant.

Sincerely,

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Posted by psnedmonton

Hey Elton! Don’t Play Israel

May 17, 2010

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Canadian filmmaker John Greyson, who took the courageous and principled stand for Palestinian human rights and withdrew his short film, Covered, from the 2009 Toronto Film Festival (TIFF) “in protest against their Spotlight on Tel Aviv program and in solidarity with the Palestinian call for a boycott against the Israeli government,” has created this short film calling on Elton John to cancel his June 17th concert in Tel Aviv. This video suggests six reasons why Elton should join the BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) movement.

Palestinian civil society has called on Elton John to respect their boycott call and cancel his June 17th concert in Tel Aviv. If he does so, he’ll be joining Santana, Gil-Scott Heron and Elvis Costello, who recently cancelled their concerts in Israel.

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Posted by psnedmonton

Elvis Costello Cancels Shows in Israel

May 17, 2010

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Following a campaign by BDS organizers, Elvis Costello has announced that he will be canceling his upcoming shows in Israel. This victory for the BDS movement follows on the heels of Gil Scott-Heron cancelling a planned tour of Israel.

Elvis Costello posted the following statement about his decision on his website:

It Is After Considerable Contemplation….

It is after considerable contemplation that I have lately arrived at the decision that I must withdraw from the two performances scheduled in Israel on the 30th of June and the 1st of July.

One lives in hope that music is more than mere noise, filling up idle time, whether intending to elate or lament.

Then there are occasions when merely having your name added to a concert schedule may be interpreted as a political act that resonates more than anything that might be sung and it may be assumed that one has no mind for the suffering of the innocent.

I must believe that the audience for the coming concerts would have contained many people who question the policies of their government on settlement and deplore conditions that visit intimidation, humiliation or much worse on Palestinian civilians in the name of national security.

I am also keenly aware of the sensitivity of these themes in the wake of so many despicable acts of violence perpetrated in the name of liberation.

Some will regard all of this an unknowable without personal experience but if these subjects are actually too grave and complex to be addressed in a concert, then it is also quite impossible to simply look the other way.

I offer my sincere apologies for any disappointment to the advance ticket holders as well as to the organizers.

My thanks also go to the members of the Israeli media with whom I had most rewarding and illuminating conversations. They may regard these exchanges as a waste of their time but they were of great value and help to me in gaining an appreciation of the cultural scene.

I hope it is possible to understand that I am not taking this decision lightly or so I may stand beneath any banner, nor is it one in which I imagine myself to possess any unique or eternal truth.

It is a matter of instinct and conscience.

It has been necessary to dial out the falsehoods of propaganda, the double game and hysterical language of politics, the vanity and self-righteousness of public communiqués from cranks in order to eventually sift through my own conflicted thoughts.

I have come to the following conclusions.

One must at least consider any rational argument that comes before the appeal of more desperate means.

Sometimes a silence in music is better than adding to the static and so an end to it.

I cannot imagine receiving another invitation to perform in Israel, which is a matter of regret but I can imagine a better time when I would not be writing this.

With the hope for peace and understanding. Elvis Costello

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Posted by psnedmonton

Action: Oppose Mount Allison University Honourary Degree for Heather Reisman

May 10, 2010

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Please participate in this action called by the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid.

Mount Allison University will be recognizing Heather Reisman, founder and CEO of Indigo Books & Music Inc. with an honorary degree at the morning convocation ceremony on May 17, 2010.

The HESEG Foundation for Lone Soldiers – which was founded by Ms. Reisman – has close ties to the Israeli military and includes on its Board of Directors notorious figures from Israel’s military establishment. By rewarding and supporting Lone Soldiers, Reisman provides support for Israel’s military effort. Please join us in opposing Mount Allison’s decision to honor an active supporter of the Israeli military – a military responsible for war crimes, gross violations of human rights and international law, and the occupation of Palestinian land.

Thank you for taking a moment to express your concern to Dr. Robert Campbell, President and Vice-Chancellor (rcampbell@mta.ca), Dr. Stephen McClatchie, Provost & Vice-President, Academic & Research (smcclatchie@mta.ca), and Ms. Gloria Jollymore Vice-President, University Advancement (gjollymore@mta.ca). A sample email is provided below.

For information about the boycott Chapters/Indigo campaign please visit the CAIA website.

STEP ONE

Cut and paste the following addresses into your email:

rcampbell@mta.ca; smcclatchie@mta.ca; gjollymore@mta.ca

Please BCC e-mails to nodegree4reisman@gmail.com so we can keep track of how many e-mails are being sent.

STEP TWO

Don’t forget to fill out your subject line:

I oppose the decision to grant an honorary degree to Heather Reisman

STEP THREE

Cut and paste the message below. Feel free to personalize it with your own words. And don’t forget to include your name (and address) at the bottom.

Dear President Campbell, and Vice-Presidents McClatchie and Jollymore,

I am writing to express great concern with Mount Allison University’s decision to grant an honorary degree to Ms. Heather Reisman, President and CEO of Indigo Books and Music Inc.

Ms. Reisman and Mr. Gerry Schwartz founded HESEG – Foundation for Lone Soldiers which provides scholarships and other support to former “lone soldiers” in the Israeli military – individuals from outside Israel with no family in the country who join the Israeli military and participate in all aspects of its repression of Palestinians. According to their website HESEG was established “to recognize and honour the contribution of Lone Soldiers.” In particular, “priority is given to combat soldiers.”

By rewarding and supporting Lone Soldiers, Reisman and Schwartz provide support for Israel’s military effort. HESEG has close ties to the Israeli military and includes on its Board of Directors notorious figures from Israel’s military establishment, such as Maj. General Doron Almog. Warrants have been issued for Almog’s arrest in the UK in 2005 and in Spain in 2008 on suspicion of war crimes.

“Lone Soldiers” participate in a military that operates checkpoints that restrict Palestinian freedom of movement, enforces the occupation of Palestinian land, and has a documented history of human rights violations. At any time there might be 5,000 “Lone Soldiers” in the Israeli military in all capacities. As you know, the Israeli military is responsible for war crimes in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and Lebanon.

Israel’s latest assault on Gaza in December 2008 killed over 1300 people, and injured over 5,000. Among those killed were 300 children. In those attacks 18 schools were destroyed and 280 damaged. Because of the blockade on construction materials – enforced by the Israeli military – the damaged schools have not been rebuilt or repaired. HESEG representatives went into Gaza to hand out $160,000 worth of “thank you” gifts to Israeli soldiers during these attacks.

I understand that Indigo Books & Music Inc. is publicly committed to good corporate citizenship, for example establishing the Love of Reading Foundation which provides books and learning materials to schools in need. Unfortunately, Palestinian schoolchildren are currently being denied access to books and learning materials by the Israeli Military which Ms. Reisman supports through the HESEG Foundation. According to an October 2009 Human Rights Watch report only 10% of required school textbooks have been printed in Gaza this year because printing supplies have been subject to the blockade which is enforced by the Israeli military. Only two truckloads of stationary have been allowed into Gaza in 2009 while 120 truckloads have been blockaded by the Israeli Military.

As a supporter of human rights I hope that you will reconsider the decision to honor Ms. Reisman with a Mount Allison degree. The connections between Heather Reisman and the Israeli Military, through the HESEG Foundation, is a tarnish on Mount Allison’s good reputation – especially in this Year of International Engagement that promised to challenge the “university community to more critically consider [its] place in the world and the part [it] can play in more actively engaging it at home and abroad.” More importantly, universities and intellectuals have a special responsibility to create a just society and to oppose war and militarism – in this way they stay true to the greatest writers and scholars.

Sincerely,

Name
Affiliation
Address

STEP FOUR

Press send!

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Posted by psnedmonton

First International Israeli Apartheid Short Film Contest

May 8, 2010

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Stop the Wall and itisapartheid.org are organizing the First International Israeli Apartheid Short Film Contest.

Please consider making and submitting a film to this contest by July 20, 2010.

The goal of this project is to raise awareness about Israeli apartheid in Palestine and create new tools to promote knowledge about the realities of Israeli colonialism, occupation and apartheid. These films should reflect the nature, realities, and/or consequences of the apartheid policy against the Palestinian people – whether in their homeland or in the diaspora. This film contest will showcase the creativity of the film producers in a way that will allow conversations around these issues to take place.

The video contest asks for submissions in any style: live-action, animated, stop-action, etc., and be no more than five minutes. First hand witnesses of apartheid, cinematographers and representatives of sponsoring groups will form different juries to judge the videos, while events organized in Palestine and abroad will act as popular juries for the videos. Four cash prizes of $300 to $500 will be awarded. We are further working to ensure that the overall winning video will not only have online exposure but will be shown in film festivals around the world.

For more information and full submissions guidelines, visit itisapartheid.tv.

http://www.itisapartheid.tv/

Leave a Comment » | Apartheid Wall, Independent Media, Videos | Permalink
Posted by psnedmonton

The Future of Palestine: Righteous Jews vs. New Afrikaners

May 3, 2010

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An interesting speech on the future prospects of Palestine/Israel delivered on April 29 by Professor John J. Mearsheimer for the Palestine Center‘s Hisham B. Sharabi Memorial Lecture.

The Future of Palestine: Righteous Jews vs. New Afrikaners

by John J. Mearsheimer
Hisham B. Sharabi Memorial Lecture, Palestine Center, Washington, D.C., 29 April 2010

It is a great honor to be here at the Palestine Center to give the Sharabi Memorial Lecture. I would like to thank Yousef Munnayer, the executive director of the Jerusalem Fund, for inviting me, and all of you for coming out to hear me speak this afternoon.

My topic is the future of Palestine, and by that I mean the future of the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, or what was long ago called Mandatory Palestine. As you all know, that land is now broken into two parts: Israel proper or what is sometime called “Green Line” Israel and the Occupied Territories, which include the West Bank and Gaza. In essence, my talk is about the future relationship between Israel and the Occupied Territories.

Of course, I am not just talking about the fate of those lands; I am also talking about the future of the people who live there. I am talking about the future of the Jews and the Palestinians who are Israeli citizens, as well as the Palestinians who live in the Occupied Territories.

The story I will tell is straightforward. Contrary to the wishes of the Obama administration and most Americans — to include many American Jews — Israel is not going to allow the Palestinians to have a viable state of their own in Gaza and the West Bank. Regrettably, the two-state solution is now a fantasy. Instead, those territories will be incorporated into a “Greater Israel,” which will be an apartheid state bearing a marked resemblance to white-ruled South Africa. Nevertheless, a Jewish apartheid state is not politically viable over the long term. In the end, it will become a democratic bi-national state, whose politics will be dominated by its Palestinian citizens. In other words, it will cease being a Jewish state, which will mean the end of the Zionist dream.

Let me explain how I reached these conclusions.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by psnedmonton

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